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Tiger Woods won his fifth Masters Sunday, nearly 11 years after his last major victory, in one of the greatest comebacks in the sport’s history.
Woods, 43, won the tournament by one stroke in a close competition that at one point saw five golfers sharing the lead. Things grew even more dramatic when four golfers remained tied with just a few holes left to play, Yahoo Sports reported.
Woods’s rivals, some of whom are seen as his successors, all hit disappointing shots in their final holes, with one, Francesco Molinari, sending his ball into the water.
With two holes to go, Woods took a two-shot lead and carried things over the finish line with the crowd cheering him on.
“When I tapped the putt in, I don’t know what I did, but I know I screamed,” Woods said of his final stroke. “To have my kids there, it’s come full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I’m the dad with two kids there.”
Many congratulated Woods for his achievement, including President Trump and former President Barack Obama, who both celebrated the star golfer on Twitter:
Love people who are great under pressure. What a fantastic life comeback for a really great guy! https://t.co/41MtJtYEjq
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2019
Congratulations, Tiger! To come back and win the Masters after all the highs and lows is a testament to excellence, grit, and determination.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 14, 2019
Fellow athletes also feted Woods, including tennis superstar Serena Williams, who praised the golfer’s tenacity and his ability to overcome his injuries.
I am literally in tears watching @TigerWoods this is Greatness like no other. Knowing all you have been through physically to come back and do what you just did today? Wow Congrats a million times! I am so inspired thank you buddy.
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 14, 2019
This is Woods’s 15th Majors victory and his first Masters since 2005. He won his first Masters in 1997 at the age of 21, becoming the youngest golfer and the first black man to win the tournament. In recent years, he has struggled with injuries and personal troubles, leading some to suggest his best years were behind him. Sunday’s results suggest otherwise.
